Imagine what it would feel like to enter a totally new country, leaving behind your friends and the life you once knew. Everything feels strange, and you must learn a different language and the ways of this new place to get by successfully. Now imagine being a child in this situation. Tough stuff!
UVM ESL is a group of student volunteers who go into 3
elementary schools in the Burlington area to help with ESL
classrooms and afterschool programs. In addition we work with
the Somali Bantu Association in offering ESL to refugees.
Through English as a Second Language (ESL), volunteers help
ease the transition of young immigrants into the Burlington
community by teaching reading, writing, and verbal skills to
tutees and forming meaningful relationships in the process.
No experience in ESL or knowledge of another language is
required, but definitely welcomed! It's a great way to give
back to the Burlington community and it's a lot of fun! You
can volunteer as much or as little as you want and throughout
the semester we meet to reflect on our experiences!